There’s a spot down by the creek inside Flying Creek Preserve where tree stumps and logs are arranged in a circle on soft, sandy ground. It’s shaded so thick that even on a warm afternoon it’s noticeably cooler there. Quiet. You can hear the water. The city designed it as an outdoor classroom, but honestly, it feels more like a place someone built just to sit and breathe for a minute.
That’s what Fairhope pulled off with this place.
A Decade in the Making
If you’ve lived here a while, you remember “the Triangle”… that big wooded parcel off Scenic 98 between Fairhope and Montrose that just sat there for years. Beautiful, overgrown, and easy to drive past without thinking much about it.
The city of Fairhope has been quietly working to turn it into a public nature preserve for over a decade. This past August, they finally cut the ribbon on Phase One: 108 acres of protected land nestled along Fly Creek, now known as Flying Creek Preserve.
Hundreds of people showed up for the opening. Mayor Sherry Sullivan said something at the ceremony that stuck with me: “This is for you. This is not for us. This is something you can bring your kids and grandchildren to for years.”
If you’re newer to Fairhope and want to know more about what makes this town tick, start here.
That’s exactly the right way to think about it.
What’s Actually There
This isn’t a cleared field with a picnic table and a trailhead sign. The city put real thought into this.
The trail system alone gives you options depending on your mood:
- The Carriage Trail follows the actual historic route that people used to take into downtown Fairhope over a century ago
- The Primitive Trail goes deep into the woods where it really does feel wild
- The Tunnel Trail leads to a lit pedestrian underpass decorated with a mural painted by Fairhope artist Hannah Legg
- The Gully Trail, the Feeder Trail, and the Connector Trail round out the system with different terrain and scenery
There’s a longleaf pine grove with hundreds of saplings planted to keep the species alive locally. There are butterfly gardens filled with native plants – Black-Eyed Susans, Oak Leaf Hydrangeas, Virginia Sweet Spire – chosen specifically to support native pollinators. There are bird blinds. Picnic areas. And the John Martin Nature Center, a multi-level building with classrooms, a spacious covered deck overlooking the creek, and public restrooms.
Even the small details tell you this was built with care. Some of the concrete was mixed with recycled glass. The trail surfaces follow the natural topography – nothing was bulldozed flat. The outdoor classroom seating was sealed using a Japanese wood-burning technique so no chemicals would seep into the ground near the creek.
That’s not an accident. That’s a community that takes this stuff seriously.
The Name Has a Story
The term “Flying Creek” is a direct translation of Bayou Volante – the name French explorers gave this waterway when they settled along the Gulf Coast. The name likely described the creek’s swift current, which would have been a notable feature for early navigation.
So the next time you’re standing on that creekside deck listening to the water, you’re standing in roughly the same spot where French settlers once noted how fast it moved. That’s not nothing.
What’s Still Coming
Phase One covers about 72 acres of trails and the Nature Center. A second phase covering the remaining 36 acres to the south is already in planning. Future additions include a kayak launch, more trails, educational trail signs, and eventually a direct connection to the Eastern Shore Trail that runs from North Daphne all the way through South Fairhope.
Mayor Sullivan put it well: the preserve is “only going to get about four or five times better.”
The whole project was funded through the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources using Gulf of Mexico Energy and Security Act money – coastal Alabama conservation dollars coming back to a community that earned them.
Go See It
The preserve entrance is on the east side of Scenic 98 heading from Fairhope toward Montrose. There’s a paved road in, parking on site, and the trails are free and open to the public. No membership, no fee, no reason to wait.
If you haven’t been yet, go on a weekday morning when it’s quiet. Walk the Carriage Trail. Find that creekside classroom. Sit on one of those stumps for a few minutes.
Fairhope has always had a way of protecting what makes it worth living in. Flying Creek Preserve is that instinct at its best.
If you’re thinking about making it your home, here’s where to start.
Common Questions About Flying Creek Preserve
Where is the entrance? On the east side of Scenic 98 (Main Street) as you head from Fairhope toward Montrose. There’s a paved road that leads to the parking area and Nature Center.
Is it free? Yes. Flying Creek Preserve is a City of Fairhope public space, open to everyone at no cost.
What trails are open right now? Phase One includes the Carriage Trail, Primitive Trail, Tunnel Trail, Gully Trail, Feeder Trail, and Connector Trail – each with a different feel and terrain.
Is it good for kids? Really good. The outdoor classroom along the creek was specifically designed for kids and school groups. The butterfly gardens and longleaf pine grove are genuinely interesting for young ones if you take a few minutes to explain what they’re looking at.
Are pets allowed? The city hasn’t posted explicit pet policy information that I’ve seen – worth checking at fairhopeal.gov or calling the city before you bring your dog the first time. That being said – I have taken my dog on the trails multiple times!
What’s coming in Phase Two? More trails, a kayak launch, educational signage, and a connection to the Eastern Shore Trail. Phase Two covers an additional 36 acres to the south of the current preserve.
Who do I contact for more information? The City of Fairhope at (251) 928-2136, or visit fairhopeal.gov. The preserve also has a Nature Center on site during open hours.
Fairhope doesn’t get everything right, but this one they got right. Go see it for yourself.
And if you ever want to talk about what it’s like to live in a town that builds things like this – I’m always around.
Got questions? #AskJudd AskJudd.com
Judd Gillespie, REALTOR® | Butler & Co Real Estate | Fairhope, Alabama
Leave a Reply